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School cut proposals are unreasonable

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Some of the Columbus Education Commission’s well-intended suggestions for cuts and savings are
either inaccurate or unobtainable.
Dispatch readers will not know this, as the article was on the front page. Articles using
misinformation from organizations, political leaders and others who are removed from the classroom
draw the pub- lic’s attention away from the reality of staff budgets, efforts in the classroom and
related issues.

In fact, some of the cost savings offered by the commission are obtainable only by rewriting
law.

Transportation, charter schools and some other issues that are mandated drain public-school
budgets.

Columbus City Schools must transport thousands of students daily around Columbus to their
private, lottery and charter schools. When asked about the likelihood of changing state laws that
apply to such things as charter-school transportation, Fischer said, “It won’t be easy, and it’s
going to come with big policy choices.”

Some policies are passed without regard to additional expenses they create.

Now, let’s approach the suggestion that the district could save money by substituting
sugar-laden applesauce to replace an apple on lunch menus, and so on. The district has adopted a
policy supporting healthy school nutrition as a result of state law. Fischer needs to do his
homework.

Will ill-informed readers now cry out that we’re spending too much on lunches — without knowing
about the law?

So many policies affecting education are based on numbers, without anyone stepping a single foot
in the classrooms. Where was the positive front-page article describing the budget cuts,
concessions and job losses for our district — and how we’re working so hard to provide the very
best for our students at the classroom level with what we have?

It would be really refreshing to have some of the positive news shared. It might affect a few
opinions, as well.